Medical Laboratory Scientist 1-28719

Responsibilities

• Utilizes required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as defined by the lab area.
• Labels and processes specimens properly.
• Performs all laboratory procedures efficiently and effectively with minimal supervision once trained.
• All testing must be done following Rush approved Policies and Procedures.
• Performs required quality control (QC) procedures and preventative maintenance, including corrective action and documentation, for all procedures and instrumentation.
• Recognizes QC problems or discrepancies and attempts to determine the cause of the problem.
• Notifies the appropriate supervisor or designee regarding QC problems or discrepancies according to the established procedure.
• Able to recognize when additional help is needed and seek out that help.
• Keeps work area neat, clean, organized, and well-stocked at all times.
• Disinfects the area at the beginning and end of each shift.
• Accepts no inappropriate specimens.
• Notifies the appropriate person of specimens that must be drawn or collected again and documents the notification.
• Maintains turnaround time expectations by prioritizing and organizing the workload for the shift.
• Makes sure to monitor the pending list periodically to ensure turnaround time of all samples.
• Uses time effectively and seeks out additional job duties when shift tasks are complete.
• Completes work without incurring overtime.
• Assists fellow workers to finish shift tasks.
• Adheres to the defined allotted time for breaks and lunch.
• Required to obtain and document 12 hours of laboratory continuing education per year.
• Accepts and/or volunteers for method evaluations and new procedure development or other special projects and completes them within an agreed upon time frame.
• Participates in procedure implementation and training of new staff and students.
• Encouraged to identify and participate in process improvement projects.
• May perform the duties of the tech-in-charge for specified periods.
• Oversees operations according to departmental guidelines.
• Understands when to defer issues to appropriate personnel, for example, a supervisor or director, and does so.
• Reviews lab results as required and takes appropriate action before verification and release.
• Recognizes and calls critical results within defined time frames.
• Reviews paper-generated results and transcribes them accurately into the Lab Information.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in laboratory science, biological science, chemistry, or education/work experience meeting the qualifications of high complexity testing personnel as defined by CLIA 42 CFR 493 1489; no previous experience required.
• Certification: Certification from a nationally recognized certifying agency is required. Some laboratory disciplines may require more stringent certification criteria.